A Glowing Conversation with Margaux Hymel

Photo Credit Bryan O'Rourke

Margaux Hymel is a New Orleans-based artist. Margaux uses bright and distinctive colors to capture the essence of NOLA’s historical culture. I had the honor of asking Margaux a few questions about how she captures the drag scene in NOLA, and what has been a defining moment for her as an artist.

UZOMAH: How has living in a place such as NOLA and its vibrant use of colors influenced your artwork?

MARGAUX: There is never a dull day in New Orleans and being an artist that is from this city I am so fortunate to experience the daily beauty around me. For one thing, it is common to see someone in costume or dressed in their finest drag on any given day which will spark an idea for a painting. The architecture lends the most inspiration to me for using vivid colors. The shotgun houses in particular have character and slightly differ from one another; you can see the soul within each of these homes by the way the exteriors are brightly painted. The everyday exposure to such color definitely inspires my work.

"Avens," 36" x 48" Acrylic on Canvas

U: How do you use art to capture the drag scene of NOLA?

M:  This really comes down to art inspiring art. After discovering the amazing world of drag years ago in Baton Rouge and seeing the transformation process thanks to some personal drag friends, it became the one subject matter that excites me most. What I witnessed in the dressing rooms was magic. It was men painting themselves like I paint on canvas and stuffing themselves with foam and layers of tights. With dresses, heels, and wigs on, I watched men transform into hyper-femme women and turn out a performance that wowed the crowd and made everyone laugh. It was then I realized who I wanted to represent in my artwork. It is their dedication to their craft, sense of pride, and energetic vitality that I am celebrating in my artwork.

U: How has art helped you address stigmas and gender norms through your art?

M: I love to blur the lines of gender in my art and I find beauty in androgyny. I see androgyny as being able to embrace one’s masculine and feminine characteristics and focusing on it in my artwork has helped me break down the rigid gender roles society has created. I now understand the idea that gender is on a spectrum and not black and white. I wish everyone could be comfortable with who they are, without fear. I hope my artwork can address that in some way.

“Starflower," 36" x 48" Acrylic on Canvas

U: Who are some subjects that are known figures in NOLA that you have not painted and want to?

M: I’m surprised at myself for not painting Big Freedia yet as she is such a powerful figure in both the music and drag scene in New Orleans. I love her confidence and would love to capture that on canvas. Also, although I have already started this, I would like to do a series of Trixie Minx who is a burlesque dancer with a massive presence in NOLA. She brings on the humor and the sexy, and I want to depict her intoxicating energy through painting.

U: How important do you think artist collectives are such as, "Where Y'Art"?

M: Where Y’Art is a great organization that allows artists from varying backgrounds and different styles to showcase their artwork. These collectives provide artists with opportunities such as curating art shows, featuring artists on news media outlets, and keeping artists in the know about festivals or pop-up events.

"Love-in-a-Mist," 36" x 48" Acrylic on Canvas

U: What Is the best advice you can give to aspiring artists?

M:  (Paint like a M*ther F*cker) Never stop making art! There have been times where I was really discouraged from making and selling art, which tends to be a motivation killer. But I always feel my best when I am creating art. My worries dissolve in front of the canvas, and I truly feel in the moment when I am focused on finding the right color or vigorously applying paint. Afterward, it feels great to just make something. Even if I think it’s terrible, I have discovered over time that the pieces I don’t care for much, end up selling or gain a lot of attention.

On top of that, being a professional artist means a lot more than just creating art. Just like any business, there are multiple facets to it such as maintaining a website, making connections, and finding a social media presence. I am extremely lucky to have an amazing and supportive family with the business acumen who continue to aid me on this journey.

U: What is the one thing that was most important that you learned about art during your time at LSU?

M:  Taking multiple figurative courses and teaching the fundamentals to undergrads really taught me how to “see” and fully understand the relativity of shapes and color on a subject. For example, instead of painting the model’s ear how I imagined an ear looks, I really learned how to observe that particular ear, what makes it different and how it characterizes that model’s features.

U: What about the visual arts makes it the type of medium to use as an authentic representation of yourself and how you see people and places around you?

M:  As I have always been a happy-go-lucky person and see the beauty in everything, my bright painting style certainly reflects the way in which I experience the world. It is my way of recording contemporary times without words and in my own voice.

U: What has been a defining moment for you as an artist?

M: Actually it was a comic contest I won when I was 20. I entered the contest 5 years in a row with 5 different 20-page comics in which I wrote and illustrated. I finally won “Rising Stars of Manga” Best in Comedy in 2007 and I was a published artist for the first time in my life. I use that moment as a reminder of the dedication and tenacity I possess to see projects through the end and to keep trying until I achieve my goals.

"Ladies' Fingers," 40" x 60" Acrylic on Canvas

U: What is one thing about being an artist that is most rewarding?

M: Being able to capture a subject’s essence and witnessing people’s joy when they see a painting or drawing of themselves is top of the list.

U: When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

M: I don't think it was ever a question. From drawing with crayons on the walls to doodling on tables, I was always making art with whatever media I could get my hands on. Mom made sure to sign me up for all kinds of art classes, which I am forever grateful for. I ended up skipping my senior year in high school when I discovered there were no more art courses and headed straight to college at Southeastern Louisiana University.

U: What do you try to express in your work?

M: Particularly when I paint or draw drag queens, I want to evoke that sense of pride that these performers convey so well. I hope to honor our differences and find beauty in every single one of us. Of course, I wish for world peace and for everyone to accept each other’s differences. Through my artwork, I am trying to unify these prideful characters from the world in which we reside. Ultimately, I want to make people smile.

 For more information about Margaux’s art please visit here. You can also follow Margaux on Instagram.